Sonoco to Help Small and Diverse Businesses Become Sustainable

HARTSVILLE, S.C., Feb. 24, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sonoco (NYSE:SON), one of the largest global diversified packaging companies, today announced a partnership with ACF Enterprises, a WBENC-certified training company, to launch a Supplier Sustainability Engagement Initiative.

The goal of the initiative is to assist small firms in developing a sustainability program by providing guidance and access to powerful learning tools, such as webinars, templates, worksheets and online courses.

"Sustainability is increasingly at the forefront of sourcing decision-making," said Marc Ensign, director, Category Management, Supplier Diversity and Sustainability for Sonoco. "This training should make small firms more attractive and appealing to other companies."

To view the Sonoco webinar, log on and register here.

Viewers will receive a free e-book entitled The Sustainable Advantage: Expert Advice on how to be a Valued Supplier, written by Icy L. Williams and Joan Carroll-Flowers. The authors explain how lower-tier suppliers can gain a competitive advantage in the public and private sector supply chains. Williams is the former supplier diversity leader at Procter & Gamble and current president of Atmos 360.

Carroll-Flowers, ACF's president, says, "Small and diverse firms looking to reduce their energy use, manage their carbon emissions and make operations more environmental friendly will benefit significantly from the training."

About Sonoco:

Founded in 1899, Sonoco is a global provider of a variety of consumer packaging, industrial products, protective packaging, and displays and packaging supply chain services. With annualized combined sales of $5 billion, the Company has more than 21,000 employees working in more than 300 operations in 34 countries, serving some of the world's best known brands in some 85 nations. Sonoco is a proud member of the 2014/2015 Dow Jones Sustainability World Index. For more information on the Company, visit our website at www.sonoco.com.

CONTACT: Roger Schrum
         +843-339-6018
         [email protected]